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ID sylw: 99229

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Coventry City Council and Coventry Airport Ltd

Asiant : Mr Robert Barnes

The Regulation 18 document recognises that some Green Belt development is likely to be required. Draft Policy Direction 7 notes that, “if there are clear sustainability benefits to utilising one or more Green Belt locations, then this will form the basis of an argument that "exceptional circumstances" exist to justify releasing that land from the Green Belt.” It advocates a sequential approach to allocating growth, and identifies the need for further evidence around sustainability of locations, their Green Belt contribution, and impact on the wider Green Belt if released.

This approach is supported, on the basis that it is applied positively so that the notable resource of Green Belt land in South Warwickshire capable of sustainable development can be properly utilised. One significant example in this regard is Sustainable Growth Location SG03 which addresses Coventry Airport.

In NPPF terms this comprises previously developed land, that is, “Land which has been lawfully developed and is or was occupied by a permanent structure and any fixed surface infrastructure associated with it, including the curtilage of the developed land… It also includes land comprising large areas of fixed surface infrastructure such as large areas of hardstanding which have been lawfully developed.” The Councils’ Green Belt Review Stage 1 report concludes that the Airport makes a weak contribution overall to the Green Belt. As previously developed land enclosed on three sides by built development and the fourth side by a busy road this overall conclusion is correct and inescapable. In NPPF terms the Airport should be regarded as “Grey Belt”.

Noting that the Airport makes a weak contribution to the Green Belt and is largely enclosed by developed non-Green Belt land the impact on the wider Green Belt if released would be significantly limited. It presents as an anomalous finger of Green Belt land between heavily developed areas and road infrastructure. Planning permission has already been granted for its comprehensive redevelopment, and it forms an integral part of the wider Major Investment Site identified by the emerging Plan here. Its location immediately adjacent to the edge of Coventry and good integration with sustainable transport links on the southern side of the City, and location as part of the “Core Opportunity Area”, also contribute to its suitability and sustainability for development. There is a clear case to be made for releasing it from the Green Belt, and this should be pursued in the next version of the emerging Plan.